Albert Eschenmoser: Prizes are Good but Discoveries are Better

Lives in Chemistry—Lebenswerke in der Chemie

Albert Eschenmoser (1925–2023), the brilliant Swiss chemist quietly composed an autobiography describing his six professional decades just “for the sake of its existence.”

Already as a PhD student at ETH Zurich, he discerned patterns in the biogenesis of terpenes. His passion for synthesis of very complex molecules culminated in the world famous “competitive collaboration” with R. B. Woodward’s group resulting in two total syntheses of Vitamin B₁₂.

Albert Eschenmoser asked questions like: How did life on Earth arise? Why did Nature choose the biomolecules we know? Clearly his vision went beyond synthesis—he pondered about fundamental issues following his conviction: “Life: perfectly commonplace and an everlasting miracle at the same time. Its emergence about four billion years ago … is the most significant chemical property of matter”. This reflects Eschenmoser’s unique stature among 20th century scientists.

Table of Contents

(E-book available)
Hardcover 17 × 24 cm, 348 p., 338 fig., 39.80 €
ISBN 978-3-86225-136-0
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This series of autobiographies provides insights into the lives and thoughts of outstanding research scientists in the context of the times they lived in. What role does the continuous sequence of hypothesis, experiment, and interpretation play in top chemical research? What is the role of impulses from mentors, students, colleagues, and competitors? Successful scientists describe authentically and in a very personal way how innovation is created.